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The Hat Trick: Bruins can breathe a sigh of relief after the Marc Savard scare

The Penguins wanted to return the favor after the B's beat them twice in Pittsburgh this season. It certainly wasn't anywhere near as lopsided as it was in the last two meetings of the teams, but the Penguins did finally beat the B's, 3-2 (recap), on a third-period goal from Jordan Staal.

In the third periods of their previous two meetings, the Bruins outscored the Penguins, 9-0, and grabbed come-from-behind victories in each contest. The Penguins' first third-period goal against the B's this season was a big one, but it wasn't the type of deflating loss the Bruins had handed Pittsburgh a couple of times.

Despite failing to score outside of a 13-second stretch in the second period that saw goals from Dennis Seidenberg and Michael Ryder, the Bruins got more productive as the game went on. They ended up outshooting the Penguins, 20-11, in the third period and got a total of 46 shots on Marc-Andre Fleury.

"I think the biggest thing for me is the fact that first half of the game we didn’t manage the puck well, we didn’t make good puck decisions in that first half and I really didn’t think we had our game going," Claude Julien said. "Then all of a sudden in the second half we started picking it up again. I’m convinced that had we played I guess 60 minutes like the last 30 we wouldn’t be sitting here looking at a loss."

Here's the Hat Trick:

NOTHING SCARY COMES OF SAVARD SCARE

There was a sense of disbelief in the Garden when Marc Savard went down in the third period after taking a hit from Deryk Engelland in the third period. Bruins and Penguins sweaters were everywhere and Savard was down on the ice. It was a situation in which it was only natural to think the worst.

Yet it seems the Bruins can consider themselves fortunate. Though he remained down for a bit and received a visit from trainer Don DelNegro before getting off the ice, he returned for his next shift and played the rest of the game.

Savard said he felt "a little woozy" but didn't seem very concerned, adding, "I don't think it's anything to worry about right now."

The fact that Savard returned to the game without even leaving the bench would suggest that initial worries were unfounded. The Bruins were careful with not rushing him back to the lineup this season, and if there was even the slightest suspicion by the B's that anything was going on after the play, one would have to think that even with the team trailing, they would err on the side of caution.

But they didn't, and the worst thing Savard had to say about it was that he "got [his] bell rung a bit," adding in the same breath that he was feeling "nothing bad right now."

As silent as the Garden was after the hit, there was ground for a loud sigh of relief on Savard's behalf.

JULIEN LOOKING FOR MORE OUT OF KREJCI

Following the game, Claude Julien commended the play of the Ryder-Savard-Nathan Horton line, as well as the Danielle Paille-Gregory Campbell-Shawn Thornton line. It was Paille who pulled off a nice screen of Marc-Andre Fleury on Seidenberg's goal, while the top line combined for 17 shots on goal (seven of which came from Ryder). Julien didn't have any praise for how things went for the Brad Marchand-Peter Bergeron-Mark Recchi group, though he said they didn't cost the team at all. Julien did not feel the same way about the third line of Blake Wheeler, David Krejci and Tyler Seguin.

"I thought the line that struggled a lot was Krejci’s line," Julien said. "They really had a tough time tonight and those guys that are on that line are guys that can produce for us. That’s one of those nights where we could have used them and they certainly have seen better nights from those guys."

The silently slumping Krejci has three points over his last eight games, and two of them came in the team's 6-0 layup over the Senators. Julien is hoping the center can use his speed to kick-start some improved play.

"The biggest thing we’ve talked to David about is if he can get his feet moving the rest of his game is going to certainly follow," Juien said. "And he’s shown some of those spurts at times and he seems to be inconsistent I guess right now.

"And it’s not from lack of trying, I think in his mind he really wants to do well and sometimes players have to grind it out and find ways to get their game again. And I think that’s what David needs to do and I think that’s what he’s trying to do right now and we haven’t seen him at his best, because when he is, he’s one of our better players."

In 36 games this season, Krejci has seven goals and 21 assists for 28 points.

WITH NOT MUCH COOKE-ING IN FIGHT DEPARTMENT, SAVARD TAKES VERBAL JAB

When it comes to giving the Bruins a boost of energy via fisticuffs, there probably isn't a more ideal dance partner than Matt Cooke. A villain in the eyes of the fans for his hit on Savard last season, Cooke has been challenged by Bruins players to drop the gloves this season, including a few times from the likes of Johnny Boychuk and Adam McQuaid.

"He won't do a thing," Savard said, matter-of-factly after the game. "Johnny's tried him the last two games numerous times, and he skates away. He'll get you from different areas, but he won't get you straight on."

Boychuk extended an invitation to Cooke twice in the game, but unlike last season, when he fought Shawn Thornton in the teams' meeting after the hit on Savard, Cooke fled the scene rather than accepting the challenge.

The B's blueliner didn't really have any complaints about Cooke ignoring him, as he understood that given the score of the game at the time of each invitation, there wasn't necessarily any reason for the Penguins' forward to fight.

"It does and it doesn't," Boychuk said when asked whether Cooke's unwillingness to fight frustrates him. "They were up, 1-0, at the point [of the challenge], and I think the last time I asked him to fight, we were down, 2-0.

"He obviously picks his spots when he wants to fight and doesn't want to lose the momentum for his team. I can see it that way, but it's kind of frustrating when you want to get something going for your team."

Greg and Chris talk with Mike Reiss from ESPN Boston in hour 2 of NFL Sunday to discuss a variety of offseason happenings with the Pats and throughout the league. Greg and Chris also get into the NFL Draft and where Mariota and Winston will go.

Mike Reiss calls the guys to talk about the offseason news for the Pats. He talks about the Pats/Jets tampoering fiasco, free agency, where he sees Ridley and Connolly ending up, if the Patriots would be interested in Reggie Wayne and more.

In the first hour of the show, Greg and Chris discuss the news coming out of the owners' meetings this week and rule changes. Belichick's blow-up over the league not wanting to spend on endzone cameras was well documented and the guys react. They also talk about the Jets ridiculous tampering charges, free agents still lingering out there, where Stevan Ridley will land and the RB position in New England. Dickerson and Price briefly discuss the adventures of Tom Brady before being joined by WEEI.com's Mike Petraglia to talk all things Pats in the offseason.

Flannery joins Mut to break down the Isaiah Thomas trade to Boston and what it means for the Celtics this season and in the future. Paul also chats with Mut about the other deals that happened at the NBA's trading deadline

Mut, Tomase, and Bradford kick things off talking about Shane Victorino taking offense to people reading into some comments he made about trading for Cole Hamels. They also discuss Blake Swihart and how soon he could be up if Christian Vazquez starts the season on the DL.

Joe Kelly joined the Hot Stove show where he talked about being ready for his next spring training start after a biceps ailment forced him out of his last outing, he talks about his NCAA brackets and how teammate Wade Miley has a perfect bracket still.

Peter Chiarelli joined the Sunday Skate crew to talk about the Bruins playoff push heading into the final handful of games of the regular season. Chiarelli talked about avoiding some of the overly negative feedback he gets while realizing that the team does have real issues. He discusses what went down at the trade deadline and if he was happy with the outcome, Lucic having a down year and underperforming, the salary cap and if he considers it as big of an issue as it's been made out to be and what the future holds for the team.

It's a big hour #2 for the Sunday Skate dudes - they talk about the B's defenseman and what the future looks like at that position, with both moves the team can make and younger guys in the AHL. They also get into the Bruins philosophy on bringing guys up and sending them back down and how players deal with that. Finally, the boys are joined by Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli to discuss EVERYTHING.

The Sunday Skate crew gets the show going discussing the Bruins big, impressive victory over the NY Rangers yesterday. What can you take from that game? According to LB - Lyndon Byers - who called the guys from the road, not a lot. LB drops a dime on what was going on with the Rangers yesterday. DJ and Joe discuss Claude's lines and groupings and the importance of Ryan Spooner. They also get into Lucic, his contributions this year and if he can turn things around.

With the Wells report seemingly wrapping up (we hope), Tim and Lou got to talking about possible fines and punishments the Patriots must face. It's possible that the Patriots will face a small fine, but should they take that laying down? The conversation brings out a little passion from BOTH sides.